Course Overview
The RYA Day Skipper Fast Track is a coordinated 12-day route from beginner crew to aspiring skipper. It combines RYA Competent Crew, RYA Day Skipper Practical and RYA Marine Radio VHF/SRC in one directly bookable package.
The two practical weeks run consecutively from Yacht Haven Marina, with the intervening weekend included in the overall programme. The package price is 90% of the combined standard CC, DSP and VHF/SRC prices.
Day Skipper Theory is separate from the Fast Track package price and must be completed before joining the practical programme in Phuket. It can be completed remotely with an independent RYA provider such as Skippers Online or Ardent Training, so the practical programme can focus on applying navigation, pilotage and command skills aboard.
🌞 Sailing conditions 🌊
Phuket offers year-round tropical sailing. The northeast-monsoon months are generally drier, while the southwest monsoon can bring fresher winds, tropical showers and larger swell on exposed Andaman routes. Phang Nga Bay provides more sheltered water, allowing the instructor to select suitable training areas for the day’s conditions.
⛵️ Places to explore 🏝️
Depending on weather and training objectives, the cruising area can include limestone anchorages in Phang Nga Bay, islands near Phuket and, on suitable passages, the Phi Phi Islands. The final route is always set by the instructor and is not a fixed holiday itinerary.
Who Is This Course For?
Motivated beginners who want an intensive, structured progression from their first practical sailing experience toward Day Skipper-level skills.
Prerequisites
- No previous sailing experience required
- Reasonable mobility and fitness for two practical weeks aboard
- Minimum age: 16 years old
- RYA Day Skipper Theory must be arranged separately and completed before joining the practical programme in Phuket. Recommended independent providers include Skippers Online and Ardent Training
Typical Itinerary
Board before the first practical week, complete Competent Crew training, continue through the intervening weekend and then undertake the Day Skipper Practical component. Exact VHF/SRC delivery and assessment timing is confirmed in the joining instructions.
- Days 1–5: Competent Crew practical skills, helming, sail handling, ropework and onboard routines
- Days 6–7: intervening weekend for consolidation and rest; students arrange their own time
- Days 8–12: Day Skipper Practical pilotage, passage planning, boat handling and command exercises
- Marine Radio VHF/SRC tuition and assessment arranged alongside the confirmed programme
Sailing Yacht on This Course
Practical courses are currently scheduled aboard our dedicated liveaboard training yacht from Yacht Haven Marina.
What Is Included
Included
- Five-day RYA Competent Crew course
- Five-day RYA Day Skipper Practical course
- RYA Marine Radio VHF/SRC course
- Accommodation during both practical courses.
- Prepared bedding and onboard towels
- Yacht safety and training equipment
- Fuel, home marina fees and normal operating costs during practical training
- Simple breakfast and lunch onboard
- Drinking water, tea and coffee
- Provisions for one simple onboard dinner during each practical week if the itinerary requires an evening at anchor
Not included
- RYA Day Skipper Theory
- £76 RYA VHF/SRC examination fee
- Shore accommodation and personal arrangements during the intervening weekend
- Flights and transport
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
- Other optional services not specifically included
- Non-home marina, park, customs and immigration charges unless expressly included
- Dinner ashore, soft drinks, alcohol, snacks and additional personal provisions
Optional extras
- Course textbook€25 per book
- RYA logbook€20 per book
- Airport pickup€30 per trip
- Onboard air conditioning€5 per generator hour
Bookable extras can be selected on the booking page.
AC charge covers extra fuel, generator running hours and maintenance; settled onboard according to actual use.
Course Syllabus
- Competent Crew practical syllabus
- Preparation for sea, pilotage and practical navigation
- Yacht handling under sail and power
- Passage making, command and crew management
- Emergency situations and onboard safety
- Marine VHF, DSC and distress procedures
Recommended to Bring
- Quick-drying clothing and non-marking footwear
- Sun protection and a light waterproof layer
- Soft luggage suitable for extended liveaboard training
- Navigation notes and tools requested before arrival
- Passport-size photograph for skipper certification
Supporting Courses
RYA Day Skipper Theory
Build the chartwork, navigation, pilotage, weather and passage-planning knowledge required for Day Skipper Practical.
View course informationRYA Marine Radio VHF/SRC
Included in this packageLearn how to operate a marine VHF radio confidently, including routine calls, distress and emergency procedures, Digital Selective Calling and essential radio protocol.
View course informationLocal Information
Flights and Arrival
Phuket International Airport is approximately 20–30 minutes by road from Yacht Haven Marina in normal traffic. Plan to arrive with enough time for Sunday-evening boarding. Airport transfer and accommodation before or after the course can be arranged separately.
Typical Weather
Phuket is warm throughout the year, but the monsoon seasons influence wind, rainfall and route planning. These are typical patterns rather than a forecast.
Mid Oct–Jan
24–31°C
Drier northeast-monsoon period with more sunshine and generally comfortable cruising conditions.
Feb–May
25–33°C
Hot, mostly dry weather. Winds can become lighter and more variable as the season progresses.
July–Aug
24–32°C
Southwest-monsoon sailing with tropical showers, fresher winds and more swell on exposed routes.
Sep–Mid Oct
24–31°C
Typically the wettest and most changeable period, with squalls and routes adjusted to conditions.
Your Next RYA Step
After completing the pathway, consolidate your command experience and build miles before progressing toward Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Theory and Coastal Skipper Practical.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the 12-day Day Skipper Fast Track organised?
The programme combines five days of RYA Competent Crew, an intervening weekend, and five days of RYA Day Skipper Practical. The RYA Marine Radio VHF/SRC course is completed online, and we will send your login details after booking. Its in-person assessment is arranged during your stay in Phuket, most likely over the weekend between Competent Crew and Day Skipper Practical. Your joining instructions provide the final boarding, training and assessment schedule.
Do I need previous sailing experience before joining?
No previous sailing experience is required for the complete pathway. It begins with Competent Crew and progressively develops the practical seamanship, navigation, boat handling and command skills needed for Day Skipper. You should have reasonable mobility and fitness for two practical liveaboard weeks, and the minimum age is 16.
Must I complete Day Skipper Theory before the practical programme?
You must reach RYA Day Skipper Theory knowledge standard before certification at the practical level. We strongly recommend completing the online theory course with Skippers Online or Ardent Training before arriving in Phuket. Theory course fees are separate from the Fast Track package.
Is the RYA Marine Radio VHF/SRC course included?
Yes. The package includes the RYA Marine Radio VHF/SRC course and the assessment arrangements stated in your booking. The exact timing is coordinated with the two practical weeks and confirmed in your joining instructions.
Where do I stay during the two practical weeks and middle weekend?
Onboard accommodation is included during both practical training weeks according to your selected tariff. Shared cabins or berths are the standard arrangement. A private cabin must be reserved using the applicable private-cabin tariff. Couples or friends may ask to be allocated together, subject to the assigned yacht and existing reservations. The intervening weekend is for consolidation, rest and your own arrangements, so accommodation ashore and personal weekend costs are not included. View our recommended accommodation near Yacht Haven Marina.
How are meals and provisions arranged?
A simple breakfast and lunch are provided onboard each sailing day, together with drinking water, tea and coffee. Dinner is normally enjoyed ashore at the student's own cost. If the itinerary requires an evening at anchor, provisions for one simple onboard dinner are included. Soft drinks, alcohol, snacks and additional personal provisions are not included. Students share simple meal preparation, washing-up and normal yacht housekeeping as part of cruising-yacht life. The same arrangement applies to each practical week. Meals during the weekend between Competent Crew and Day Skipper Practical are not included, so students make their own arrangements. View nearby restaurants and food shops around Yacht Haven Marina.
Will Competent Crew and Day Skipper students share the yacht?
Yes. The courses are compatible: Competent Crew students develop practical crewing skills while Day Skipper candidates practise planning, briefing and command. The instructor manages the programme so each student receives suitable tasks, coaching and time at the helm, with a maximum of five students aboard.
Are the course certificates guaranteed at the end of the Fast Track?
No. RYA course-completion certificates are awarded only when the relevant standard is demonstrated, and the VHF/SRC certificate requires completion of its separate assessment process. If more practical training is requested by students, up to two additional days may sometimes be arranged over the weekend—most likely the weekend after the Day Skipper Practical phases—subject to instructor and yacht availability, at €300 per day. Additional training provides more time to develop and demonstrate the required competence but does not guarantee certification.
